Side Effects of Hydrocodone

Hydrocodone is not just one drug, but a mixture of drugs that are narcotic pain relievers. Combined with the less powerful pain reliever Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone becomes a more powerful pain relieving agent. One can expect it to relieve mild to moderate pain when taken in the correct dosages. It's commonly prescribed after surgery, painful dental work, or to relieve pain from an injury.

It's important that you notify your doctor or medical practitioner if you currently drink more than 3 alcoholic drinks a day or have cirrhosis of the liver as you may not be able to take pain relievers that contain Acetaminophen. Other drugs that your doctor should be aware of you taking before you prescribing Hydrocodone include sleeping pills, anti-psychotic medications, Irritable Bowel Disease medications, urinary medications, and anti-depressants.

There are other side effects of Hydrocodone that you should be aware of. While most of the side effects are mild, some are more severe including:

Shortness of Breath

Slow or Weak Breathing

Vomiting

Tightness in Chest

Swelling of hands, ankles, throat, or tongue

Yellowing of the skin or eyes

However, the more common, less severe side effects of Hydrocodone include:

Anxiety

Constipation

Dizziness

Drowsiness

Light-Headed Feelings

Nausea

Mood Swings

Rash

Vomiting

Certainly, these side effects do not occur in all or even most of the users of this medication and do fade with use. But, if you find that the side effects worsen to the point that the side effects are worse than the pain they're relieving, contact your physician immediately.

A very important thing to note is that Hydrocodone is addictive and can become habit-forming if taken for long periods of time. That is the reason doctors normally prescribe it for a short-term pain relief solution and not chronic pain sufferers. Take as needed for pain and do not exceed the recommended dosage by the doctor. The drug is often abused due to its euphoric inducing state and when abused, could cause death. Keep track of how many tablets you consume so that you're aware if someone else in your home is using your medication for non-prescribed purposes.

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